EOSC as an Enabler of Research Assessment Reform

Relevance

There have been many calls for a reform of research assessment over the last decade. The topic has become more central to the European research and innovation policy through the creation of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) and the European Commission’s proposal to improve researchers’ careers and support the attraction, mobility, and retention of researchers in Europe.

Scope

This position paper presents eight recommendations from the TF RCRC on reforming research assessment to support researchers engaging with EOSC, outlining a path for EOSC-A to be a key enabler of research assessment reform in the future.

Main highlights

The TF recognises that current research assessment systems are too focused on journal-based metrics and need to sufficiently recognise and reward researchers for behaviours that strengthen research integrity and responsible research practices. The TF believes that research assessment should consider the full spectrum of research activities and outputs by researchers, consider differences between disciplines, reward and support Open Science and FAIR practices, combine a quantitative and qualitative approach to assessment, and support responsible use of indicators and metrics. In addition, there should be flexibility for organisations to tailor assessments to their own interests and needs.

Key recommendations

Based on these views, the TF provides 8 recommendations to support research assessment reform within and via EOSC and to engage with CoARA.

Recommendations for the EOSC Partnership

• Prioritise responsible research assessment in future updates of the SRIA and raise awareness on how EOSC can support research assessment and include Open Science practices.
• Support the development of open infrastructure for research assessment, including FAIR and open documentation of research assessment policies and practices.
• Implement concrete funding actions which support the reform of research assessment and complement the activities of CoARA and its members.

Recommendations for the EOSC Association:

• Continue to define the role of EOSC-A in the research assessment reform.
• Reflect on how to engage with CoARA, actively participate in relevant working groups and national chapters, and coordinate and align across CoARA members in EOSC-A to propose a role for EOSC-A in the reform of research assessment.
• Monitor the activities of EOSC-A members on reforming research assessment and the impact of any reforms involving FAIR data and open science on research assessment and researchers.
• Share data, experiences, and good practices from EOSC-A members on processes, challenges, and outcomes to reform research assessment.
• Facilitate dialogue and collaboration between researchers, organisations, and policymakers on reforming research assessment.